NAMIREMBE – A sex scandal has engulfed Namirembe Anglican Diocese in Kampala after one of its priests, who is set to wed this week, was suspended for fathering a child with a choir member.
Rev Ronald Kalende, who serves at Mwererwe Church of Uganda, was given matching orders during a disciplinary meeting on Tuesday where he admitted to fathering a child with Peruth Serena Nabirye, a 23-year-old pianist.
Rev Kalende, who is set to be introduced by a daughter of Rev Daniel Serumbawo in Zigoti Mityana this weekend, had initially denied responsibility for the child.
But on Tuesday, he admitted responsibility for the pregnancy after the Minister for Youth and Children Affairs Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi intervened. The minister had ordered that Rev Kalende and Nabirye be taken for a DNA at the government laboratory in Wandegeya.
Nabirye, who used to stay at Archdeacon Ven Emmanuel Ssewanyana’s place in Kazo, had been dismissed following the pregnancy.
“The Bishop had ordered Canon Ssewanyana to give me UGX. 500,000 every month for upkeep but he gave me only UGX. 300,000 before kicking me out of his place,” she told the local daily.
Rev Kalende had denied responsibility and accused Rev Julius Matovu of being the one responsible for Nabirye’s current situation.
“Rev Matovu knows the real father of Nabirye’s baby. Nabirye should bring out evidence that I’m the father of her baby. She should look for the father of her baby. I have never slept with her,” Nabirye had told a local daily.